The Blog

Are you dipping into your own pocket to purchase items for your classroom? As a public school educator or education support professional, you’re not alone. On average, classroom professionals spend some $1,000 annually of their own money to help meet their students’ needs.

Californians for a Secure Retirement (CRS) is warning in an opinion piece published in Monday’s Sacramento Bee that the so-called “Voter Empowerment Act” is actually another disguised attacked on the pensions of the state’s middle-class working women and men.

In “Latest measure from pension attackers threatens middle class,” CRS Chair David Low argues forcefully that “pension attackers are back, using new poll-tested language and focus-grouped talking points to undermine retirement security for millions of working families.”

A syndicate of self-styled rich, smart guys has in mind killing off public education, public pension systems, and public and private unions.

CTA and its labor allies are hard at work trying to keep this group, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), from gaining a foothold in California. ALEC is an organization funded by corporate entities to formulate anti-union and anti-public education proposals into language that would become state legislation.

If you’ve ever had a hankering for riding roughshod on your herd of undisciplined ducks, CTA has training for you. Consider it a “dude ranch” for duck wranglers.
Seriously, if your efforts to lasso internal and external communications have you climbing your rope, you need only sign up for the Communications Strand at CTA’s Summer Institute, Aug. 2-6 on the UCLA campus.

Gov. Brown has signed CTA-supported AB 163, by Assembly Member Das Williams (D-Carpinteria). The bill creates a Native American language-culture credential that authorizes holders to teach Native American culture, Native American language, or both.

K-12 and community college classified and certificated employees on specific leaves will no longer have to clear with their employers out-of-state travel, thanks to Gov. Brown’signingof CTA-supported AB 915, by Assembly Majority Leader Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). The measure eliminates outdated travel restrictions that prohibit employees who are receiving workers’ compensation payments to travel outside California without the approval of their governing board.

CTA congratulates Pico Rivera Educator Jose Lara for being awarded the first-ever NEA Social Justice Activist Award today at the ‪#‎NEARA15in Orlando.
Lara is a social studies teacher at Santee Education Complex High School in Los Angeles, recognized for his work in educational justice.

Delegates spent more than 90 minutes on Saturday discussing New Business Item 11 that directs the NEA to support, in ways it finds appropriate and effective, efforts to remove the confederate battle flag from public schools and public places.

“Removing the confederate flag from our public schools is just one of the many steps we must take to address the institutional racism that continues to exist across our nation. The flag, instead, belongs in history books and museums,” said CTA President Eric C. Heins. “There is no place in our schools and communities for objects that hurt and divide rather than promote unity and growth as a society. We have made some progress, but the shootings in Charleston remind us of the work we have to do as a nation. Approval of this motion is just one step.”